Pottsgrove High School renovations subject of 2 upcoming meetings

LOWER POTTSGROVE — The Pottsgrove School Board is hoping to encourage public involvement in its next big decision — the potential renovation of Pottsgrove High School at a cost of as much as $30 million — so it has scheduled two meetings on the subject.

The first will be held tomorrow, April 23, and the second on Monday, April 29.

Both meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. and be held in the Pottsgrove High School cafeteria.

Advertisement

During the first meeting KCBA Architects of Hatfield will present a feasibility study of all possible repair and renovation work that could be undertaken at the school.

That study will be posted on the district web site after the meeting and the second meeting has been scheduled to answer questions and gather input from the public regarding the information the study contains.

“KCBA specializes in educational facility planning and design and has designed more than 125 school projects throughout the state. Its feasibility study will include an evaluation of current conditions and space, as well as a comprehensive look at what could be done to update the high school to meet modern codes, standards, and needs,” school board member Michael Neiffer posted on a Facebook page dedicated to his reelection and that of his incumbent running mates.

“The study evaluates the status and life cycle of the building, including structural, mechanical, food service and security systems. It will also include analysis of the exterior facilities, including athletic fields and parking,” he wrote.

“KCBA met with district administrators and school staff, as part of its evaluation, to gain insight from those who use the building on a daily basis. The firm considered information about the district’s curriculum and academic plans so it could adequately plan for space to support the high school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs, as well as performing and visual arts and special education programs,” according to Neiffer.

Some of the renovations could not wait and the board has already moved forward with replacing the building’s outdated and failing rooftop chiller mechanism.

More expensive and extensive is the interior work at the school, including the HVAC system and the unit ventilators in each classroom, repairs to plumbing, a $750,000 roof replacement; new fire alarms and paging system, and adding air conditioning to the gymnasium, team rooms and locker rooms.

When other projects identified by Crabtree and Facilities Manager Mike Katzenmoyer, such as athletic field refurbishment, are added to the list, the price tag jumps as high as $8.7 million

However an ever larger package of repairs could push the price tag as high as $30 million, Business Manager David Nester has previously told the board, also warning that such projects are unlikely to get any subsidy from the state, which has for two years frozen new applications to its reimbursement program.